Hartford Schools Name Teacher Of The Year Finalists

HARTFORD — — Educators at Opportunity High School, Betances STEM Magnet School and the Academy of Engineering and Green Technology have been named finalists for the 2013 Hartford Teacher of the Year competition.

Joseph Battaglia, a New York native and University of Hartford graduate, is an English teacher who uses the arts to help motivate students at the alternative Opportunity High, according to the district. He has taught in Hartford schools for five years.

Eight-year veteran David Mangus, the lead science teacher at Hartford Public High School's Academy of Engineering and Green Technology, coordinates and mentors the Birds of Prey robotics team. Mangus also advises the academy's Green Team.

Betances STEM's Mario Marrero teaches fourth grade at the magnet school, where is the lead science teacher. Marrero, who joined the district in 2006, previously taught at Milner Core Knowledge Academy before it became part of the state Commissioner's Network.

A panel of past winners, school curriculum directors and union representatives from the Hartford Federation of Teachers chose the three men out of 44 nominees across the district. As a requirement, the nominees must have tenure and be active in the community.

The finalists will be videotaped Tuesday instructing their students. The district plans to announce the winner May 23 during an evening banquet at the downtown Marriott.

Along with receiving $1,000 worth of gift cards, the city's Teacher of the Year becomes a nominee for the statewide competition.

Keith Sevigny, a teacher at Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School, is the 2012 district winner.